Ancestral Link: Mnangagwa’s Great-grandfather Among King Lobengula’s Forces in the Battle of Pupu – watch video
Ancestral Link: Mnangagwa’s Great-grandfather Among King Lobengula’s Forces in the Battle of Pupu – President Emmerson Mnangagwa traces his lineage to one of the Ndebele warriors who triumphed over colonial forces led by Major Allan Wilson at the Battle of Pupu in 1893, as revealed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga during the official commissioning of the memorial site. Mnangagwa’s great-grandfather, Muvengo, was part of the amabutho who fought in the historic battle.
Speaking about his family connection to the Battle of Pupu, Mnangagwa explained that his great-grandfather, originally named Mapanzure, was taken as a young child from Chief Chivi’s tribe to the court of King Mzilikazi. Adopted by the king and renamed Muvengo, Mnangagwa’s ancestor grew up in the Ndebele culture, losing his Shona language in the process.
Despite returning home to Chivi and participating in the war as Muvengo, he later changed his name to Kushanduka. Watch video here
Meanwhile, Chiwenga underscored the importance of preserving culture and acknowledged the President’s role as a symbol of strength and resistance. He highlighted the significance of accurately conveying Zimbabwean history, particularly through events like the commissioning of the Pupu Battlefield Memorial Site.
The Battle of Pupu, a watershed moment in Zimbabwean history, occurred on December 4, 1893, when King Lobengula’s Imbizo Regiment, led by General Mtshana Khumalo, clashed with Allan Wilson Patrol. The Ndebele forces emerged victorious, wiping out the colonial party without survivors.
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In recognition of General Khumalo’s leadership, President Mnangagwa posthumously honored him as a National Hero on November 30, 2020, ahead of the unveiling of the Pupu National Monument in Lupane, Matabeleland North, commemorating the historic Battle of Pupu.
-Afrogazette-
